Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1887-12-22

| WITH u great i''lSlhS hN "''''N "
tho patient little mother, whom he loved
with n tender, chivalrous devotion, Christ
mas present.
| In the thirteen years of his life he had no
! remembrance Of her receiving Christmas
| ritt. and he was in n brown study the great
cr part of his time, planning aud contnVing
some way Ia surprise her with present
| but rs vet no way had opened,
'Harncss Doll, Teddy and Well 20 10 the
village to-day" said the mother one morn
| ing. Teddy smiled knowingly rs he hurried
away Ia obey her request, and III short
time they were on their way. NOW you
mustn't follow me around" she said win
! smile, as they ucared the village Ted an
swcred her with knowing, yet longing
! look. He wanted to ask her fer bit oI
spending money for himself, Yet fearing she
would suspect, and knowing THAT she had
little with which to carry out her own plans,
he wisely forebodc.
Il am going 10 the station 10 meet the ten
! o'clock train, Teddy" she said, rs he was
! hitchiug Doll "and you may meet me there
J with the sleigh"
| 'Father isn't coming home ishe - said
! Ted, in CONSERVATION.
ono, dear" replied the mother laughing
! at his alarm, "but / think there viii be
somebody there, and she darted into dry
goods store, without explaining the mys-
| terry.
Ted went into another store 20 get warm
! and then amused himself wandering upand
! down the street, looking into the shop win
dows which were gay with Christmas
! goods and think what he would bay II lie
had the means.
He spent fully twenty five dollars In ihiS
| imaginary way, when he observed stranger
| come out from one of the stores, and walk
away briskly.
He had n pleasant face, and stepped of
| with the assured mir of one who Is accuS-
| toned To having the good things of this life.
| 1t was warm sunny day, and his heavy
overcoat was thrown iauntly open, and, rs
| he passed up the street he drew his hand-
kerchief from an inside pocket, and blew
his nose with n sonorous blast.
Ted was watching all this with interest,
for the mans pleasant face had pleased his
childish fancy, and rs the handkerchief
came ont the boy saw another object fly out
also and lodge in the dirty snow of the gut
ter, while the gentleman walked quickly ON,
quite unaware of his loss.
Ted'S first thought was that II was only
piece of paper, and it did not occur t0 him
To investigate the matter, but second
thought sent him flying 10 the spot, where,
after some little search, he found a small
package wrapped in white paper and deco-
rated with an express label there was evil
IDENTIFY small box within. and Ted ran rs
fast as his legs would carry him 10 restore
il 10 the owner.
That jauuty gentleman was just getting !
into handsome sleigh as Ted turned the
corner and away he went.
''Mister, mister" screamed Ted at the top
of his voice, which the bells drowned, and
then began race-Ted running for dear
life, the horses trotting along with ne idea |
that they were pursued.
The boys legs did him good service, how
ever, and ut last he succeeded in attracting |
the attention of the driver. Whats this |
my lad ?" he sSid kindly. "Want ride -
''N-n-no," painted Teddy, all ont of breath |
"but you lost this sir, and | picked it up
and he held up the package.
"welI, well, did I ever" said the gentle
man, hastily feeling in his pocket "What |
n careless trick. And so you've pretty near |
run your legs off to catch me, ell -
81 guess they're all whole yet, sir" re-
piled Ted, with Il smile, land yet putting with |
the race.
He handed over the box, while the strln-
ger took out fat pocket book. "ChriStrdas |
is coming, my boy, and may he you'll like |
an extra bit of surprise money" he said, |
good naturally, as he handed out five dol |
lar bill to the astonished child.
cob, sir, that's too much, and Ted offered |
it back, quite overwhelmed by such munifi-
cence.
"Well, don't know about that, said the |
gentleman, ''that box contains watch |
worth two hundred dollars, by the time | |
had advertised it and paid reward, it |
would have cost me double the amount be- |
sides the chances of my finding it again So |
on the whole, think am rewarding you |
very moderately" and lie buttoncd his o.
vercoat over box and pocllet-book resolute-
ly, and prepared to drive on.
A whole arena of Christmas presents |
IL, l,a
thanked the generous gestlenan for his
gift. and they parted with mutual good feel |
ings.
"If had such n father as that" solilo- |
qulzed the child, ''what a good boy I'd be-
"If mad an honest, bright-faced boy like
that" said the gentleman, "what n happy
father I'd be-
Ted had never before kept secret from
his mother, and it was the hardest work to
keep from telling his adventure, but Sc
crets were flying in the air apparently and
he held on to his with true Christmas tena-
city.
He had suspected by this time who was
coming on the train, and he was on time at
the station with Doll !; he also wisely con-
cluded to wait bit for her advice and as
sstance before spending his wealth.
Aunt Nan stepped off the train when it
came in, looking roster and jollier than
ever, Ted thought, rs she hugged him mp
close to her warm furs, and she had the fat
test satchel and the heaviest basket he had
ever lifteu.
There was n perfect jubilee of welcome
when tie party reached home, and Aunt
Nan took her namesake and little Jane into
her warm embrace, to their complete sur
prise, for they had never dreamed of such
happy arrival. ''The little dears," said
y IL L